1859. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



513 



i> 



THE PUKE DEVOIJ" CO'W, FAIEY 



"We have before us the third volume of the 

 Devon Herd Book, containing pedigrees of Dev- 

 on cattle, with the names of their breeders. It 

 is an American edition, edited by Sanfokd 

 Howard, Esq., a gentleman as well qualified for 

 the task, perhaps, as any other man in the coun- 

 try. The publishers, Messrs. Brown, Taggard 

 & Chase, Cornhill, Boston, have sent us one of 

 the fviw copies which comprise the edition, and 

 also two of the electrotype cuts which illustrate 

 it. One of these we gave in a former number, 

 and to-day we present the reader the portrait of 

 as symmetrical and perfect a specimen of the 

 Devon race of cattle as he has probably e%'er 

 seen. This cow was calved in 1851, and bred 

 by G. Shapland, of Oakland, England, and is 

 now the property of R. Linsley, of West Mer- 

 iden, Conn. Fairy has taken several premiums 

 at shows of the Connecticut State Agricultural 

 Society. 



Persons who are not familiar with "blood 

 stock," may think such outlines as are presented 

 in this portrait exaggerations, — but we can as- 

 sure them that they are not, as similar specimens 

 may be seen at most of our State exhibitions, 

 and quite often at county fairs. It shows not 

 only what may be accomplished, but what may 

 be continued, by skill and care. 



j Sparrows FGa New Zealand. — In New 

 Zealand the country, at particular seasons, is in- 

 jvaded by armies of caterpillars, which clear off 

 the grain crops as completely as if mowed down 

 iwith a scythe. With the view of counteracting 

 jthi* plague a novel importation has been made. 

 ■It IS thus noticed by the Southern Cross: — Mr. 

 jBrodie has shipped three hundred sparrows on 

 board the Svvordfish, carefully selected from the 

 best hedgerows in England. The food alone, he 

 [informs us, put on i)oard for them, cost £18. This 

 sparrow question has been a long standing joke 

 in Aukland ; but the necessity to farmers of small 

 birds to keep down the grubs is admitted on all 

 sides. There is no security in New Zealand 

 against the invasion of myriads of caterpillars 

 whioli deva^-tate the crops. Mr. Brodie has all 

 reidy acclimatized the pheasant, which is abun- 

 dant in the north. The descent from the pheas- 

 ant to sparrows is somewhat of an anti-climax; 

 but should the latter multiply, the greatest ben- 

 efit will have been conferred on the countrv." 



How LONG DO Wooden Water Pipes last? 

 — In excavating for the State Street sewer, the 

 laborers came upon the remains of an ancient 

 ^iystem of water works, the exact date of which 

 is unknown, but supposed to have been made in 

 1819, '20, or in 1827. The pipes are of pine 

 wood, a foot or so in diameter, and in very ex- 

 cellent preservation. When first reached, the 

 logs retained the bark. Recent discussion re- 



